Finance Ministry and JCTU wage talks hit snag

 

Wage talks between the Ministry of Finance and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), which represents government-paid employees, broke down on Tuesday after the government said it could not better its offer to the workers at this time. 

 

The government had previously offered a 7.5 per cent increase, spread over four years, but this was rejected by the unions.

 

JCTU President St. Patrice Ennis told Radio Jamaica News on Tuesday that the government is sticking to its position of offering 0 per cent in the first year.

 

"With respect to wages and so on, there has been no change on the part of the government. The only thing that the government has made change to...that may affect the wages is the duration of the contract, where they have altered the four-year request and now [are] asking for a three-year agreement. But the figures that obtained or the figures that were announced in prior weeks are the figures that remain. 

 

"The government has not made any change, according to the minister, not at this moment. And so that is something that we don't know how to counter. We don't know how to counter a zero in our first year. And I don't believe that it's something that will fit well with our members as they have voiced their disgruntlement with such an offer before, and I don't believe that position has changed," he explained.

 

The government's previous four-year wage offer included 0 per cent in year one and 2.5 per cent for years two, three and four. 

 

Now, Mr. Ennis pointed out, the government has revised its offer to three years, proposing 0 per cent in year one, and 2.5 per cent in years two and three.   

 

"That is something that we don't believe can be countenanced. We still await their other proposal in terms of what else is it that they are to offer," he said. 

 

The parties are to meet again on August 21.

 

Meanwhile, Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) President Dr. Mark Smith has said he is hoping good sense will prevail in the wage negotiations with the Ministry of Finance and the teachers will have positive news at their annual conference next month.

 

"The 7.5 [per cent] is a non-starter. We have flatly rejected that and we are expecting a better offer.... There's been an expectation that before our annual conference that we will be able to see an offer on the table that is worth consideration," he said.